Flat-stereotype-plate-casting apparatus.



C. E. HOPKINS. FLAT STEREOTYPEPLATE CASTlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1913. RENEWED APR. 25. 1918.

1,287,999. Patented Dec.17,19l8.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

2. w m SMWYSMW C. E. HOPKINS.

FLAT STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I9I3- RENEWED APR. 25. 19:8.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Wad/Z6176]? C. E. HOPKKNS.

FLAT STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. I913. RENEWED APR-25.1918.

1,287,999. Patented Dec. 17,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

a W. 424 uizi wzzb C. E. HOPKINS. FLAT STEREOIYPE PLATE CASTING APPARATUS.

APPHCATION FILED APR, 5. 1913. RENEWED APR. 25. 191B.

1 ,287,999. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- I a L PATENT ()FFICE.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS, 0F PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

FLAT-STEREOTYPE-PLATE-CASTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application filed April 5, 1913, Serial No. 758,999. Renewed April 25, 1918. Serial No. 230,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful F lat-Stereotype-Plate-Casting Apparatus. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mold for easting fiat stereotype plates and to improvements in the casting bars therefor.

This invention is particularly intended for casting thin plates, or plates of a less thickness than type high, but nevertheless, it could be used for casting plates of any thickness. The plates are made thin instead of type high so that prepared bases (upon which the plates are mounted later) can be placed in position in the page type form and the form sent to the stereotype department, although the actual reading matter, or type face, of the advertisement has not been prepared or finished by the stereotyper. When the plate is finished, the stereotypersimply drops it into position on top of the base which is locked in the page type form. Another advantage of a thin plate over one type high is ease in handling and less finish, as by my new method of casting I practically dispense with all finishing except sawing off the riser end, which end is necessary in casting. It is also possible to cast thin plates of more uniform thickness than type high ones owing to the shrinkage being less in degree and more uniform.

The present construction is very simple, and has the advantage that it can be positioned with the vertical cover close to a melting pot. The casting bars in this case are carried at all times by the matrix sup porting back and are conveniently adjustable toward and from each other to regulate the width of the plate to be cast.

One of the important features of this in vention is the provision of means for engaging a matrix in the depression formed by a column or other rule, thus not only securing a bearing for the bar on a level with the type face of the matrix but also the proper position for the bars at each side of the matrix. Other features are the recessing of the underside of the bar to allow the uneven bolster to enter; the forming of the casting edge of the bar so as to have a chilling edge, yet leave but little metal to be removed; and the forming of the casting edge of the bar so that the lower portion of ghe cast will be slightly less than the type ace.

Having set forth the purpose of this invention I will now describe it in detail.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention with the casting back in open position and the casting bars turned up and away from the back.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the casting bars turned down 011 the flat face of the casting back against which they are locked.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the back turned midway between its horizontal and vertical position.

Fig. 1 is a similar View showing the back pivoted over on its shaft and in locked position against the vertical cover.

Fig. 5 is a front end view with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan View with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the casting bars, separated to better illustrate.

Fig. 8 is a side view of one of said bars, anc

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view on enlarged scale, of a casting bar, showing how it engages with the depression formed in a matrix by a column rule.

The apparatus has the usual flat casting back and corresponding cover. The cover 10 is fixed in vertical position to one end of the 7 side frames 11. The matrix supporting back 12 is supported on rollers 13 which operate on tracks 14 formed on top of the side frames 11.

Vertical guideways 15 are formed on each side of the cover. In these guideways operate guide rollers 16 which are mounted on studs carried by brackets 17 fast on each side of the back 12. By this mechanism the turning of the back on its pivot rollers 13 causes the guide rollers 16 to move down the guideways, simultaneously with which movement the rollers 13 on the back advance along the tracks 14 to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position pivot bearings 18, formed in brackets 17, on the back, engage with a fixed cross shaft 19 located between the side frames 11.

WVhen the pivot bearings 18 and shaft 19 become engaged the guide rollers 16 cease to operate as a guiding means, and the further advancing of the back is solely done over its pivot, and the back supporting rollers 13 likewisecease to act as a supporting means, but swing free from the tracks 14: with the pivot movement of the back into casting position as shown in Fig. at.

During this pivotal movement of the back antifriction locking rollers 20, located on each side of the back engage with the cam face ends 21 of pivoted locking arms 22, the action causing the arms to rise on the pivot shaft 23 and as the pivoting of the back continues the rollers 20 pass under the hook ends 2% of the arms and allow the said arms to drop and the hooks to envelop the rollers 20.

The pivot shaft 23 operates in bearings formed on the rear side of the cover. The ends of this shaft are made eccentric upon which eccentrics are loosely mounted the locking arms 22. A lever 25 is fast on one end of the shaf 23 for the purpose of turning the shaft to draw the locking hooks 2st, and thereby the back, into casting position and securely lock the said back and cover in said position.

Having described the operation of the casting back and means of looking it and the cover in casting position T will now describe the construction of the casting bars and how they operate.

The bars have side members of full thickness with half thickness bottom right angular extensions or cross bars 31; the extensions are made to slide one on top of the other, and to pass through recesses 32, formed in one face of the side bars and in alineinent with the cross bars so as to form the head gage.

The top ends of the casting bars 30 are provided with right angular arms 33 which, when the bars are flat on the face of the back 12, enter recesses 3e formed on the back turning handles The purpose of these extending arms 33 is to prevent metal passing down outside of the casting chamber formed between the casting bars 30, when pouring a plate. The handles 3% act as a protecting means, and the recesses as guiding or positioning means for the arms 33.

Each casting bar 30 has a broad plate 29 below the cross bar 31, by which the bars are bolted to movable blocks 35, (see Fig. 5) mounted on two cross shafts 36 and 37.

The movable blocks are provided with threaded bearings (one right the othe left hand) through which passes a right and left hand threaded shaft 36. This shaft is supported in bearings formed in the brackets 17 fast to each side of the back 12. To one end of this screw shaft is fixed a ha d wheel 38 by turning which the casting bars are caused to advance toward or recede from each other.

r or the purpose of holding the bars paral lel a cross shaft 37 is provided and fixed in pivot arms 39-h), which arms are mounted loose on the screw shaft 36, outside of the shafts bearings.

A casting bar turning and locking lever 41 is formed as apart of the pivot arm 39, and is provided with a pivoted handle %2 to which handle is fixed a hook as. By twisting the handle on its pivot the hook moves over a pin sta fixed in the axle of one of the back supporting rollers 13. By this means the casting bars are locked down tight against the face of the back, and hold a matrix thereinbetween during the movement of the back into casting position.

A locking means is provided for locking the casting back in horizontal position while a matrix is being positioned, or when the casting bars are elevated. above the back. The locking device consists of a cam plate so formed on the pivot arm 39, (the same arm that has the locking lever). Located in the side frame is a pin 46, over which the cam plate 45 passes as soon as the casting bar operating lever is elevated to move the casting bars 230 from engagement with the face of the back. By this means the back is locked in horizontal position so long as the cam is over the pin.

The casting faces of the casting bars 30 are formed with longitudinal recesses of V shape to prevent the face of the casting bar 30 from chilling the molten metal preliminarily along the edges of the type face during the act of filling the mold. This recess 50 brings about the same result as though the casting bar 30 were set back away from the type face. It forms a vshaped project-ion along the side of the casting which can be removed by two or three strokes of a hand plane. The bottom sides of the bars have broad recesses 51, for the purpose of receiving the bolsterB of the matrix m. Beneath the recess 50 is a V shaped projection 52 which extends from the cross bar 31 to near the end of the bar 30. This V shaped projection is shaped to fit into a recess m formed by a column or other rule in the matrix m and acts as a means for alining the matrix with the face of the casting bar. The recess 51 permits the bottom of the bar 30 to rest solidly on the casting back 12 of the mold instead of on top of the uneven bolster B as has been the case heretofore. As the depression of the matrix formed by the column rule is on the same level as those formed by the typ faces the body of the cast will be of uniform thickness from its type face wh'ch is an improvement on the old forms because the thickness varied in differentmatrices owing to the uneven thickness of the bolster. Tl is means of clamping the matrix at the bottom of a column rule indenture or on a level with the.

type face indentures makes it .possibie to cast any number of duplicate plates of exact y the same thickness. and dispenses with the necessity of the usual machine operation 0 g them down to a uniform thick- (See Fig. 9.)

That cross bar 31 which engages with the flat face of the back 12 is provided with a recess 53, similar to the recess 51 on the bar 30, and for the same purpose, and it also has a projection extending its length like the projection 52. As the type face of the matrix need not come too close to the edge of the cast plate no recess like the recess 50 is necessary in this bar.

Certain features shown herein are not specifically claimed as they are claimed in my co-pending application filed on the same date as this one, Serial No. 758,998.

Although I have illustrated and described only one embodiment of my invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope thereof as expressed in the claims, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described but what I do claim is 1. In a casting apparatus the combination of a frame having tracks thereon, a casting cover fixed in a substantially vertical plane, a casting back supported horizontally on the tracks, the frame having a fixed pivot for the back, a vertical guide on the cover for guiding and turning the back to vertical position and over the fixed pivot, guide rollers on the back cooperating with said guide, and means for locking the back in casting position to the casting cover.

2. In a casting apparatus, the combination of a frame having tracks thereon, a cover fixed in substantially vertical position, a back, guide rollers carried by the back, and supported by the tracks on the frame, vertical guide ways at the sides of the cover, a pivot shaft fixed in the frame, and means carried by the back for engaging the pivot shaft as the back is guided and turned to ward and into engagement with the said cover. I

3. In a casting apparatus, the combination of a frame having tracks thereon, a cover, a back, rollers carried by the back and supported by the tracks on the frame, guide rollers carried by said back, guideways at the sides of the cover for said guide rollers, and means for supporting the back as it is guided and turned toward and into engagement with said cover.

4. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a frame, a fixed cover, a back, rollers on the back, tracks for said rollers, guide rollers carried by said back, guides for said guide rollers on the said cover, pivot bearings carried by said back, pivots for said bearings located in the framing, and means for moving the back to engage its bearing with the pivot and thereafter into engagement with the cover.

In a stereotype platecasting apparatus,

the combinationof a frame, a fixed cot er,

a back provided with pivot bearings, rollers supporting said back, tracks on the frame for supporting said rollers, a pivot for said bearings fixed in the frame, and means for guiding the back so its pivot bearings will engage with the fixed pivots and thereby cause the back to aline with said fixed cover.

6. In a flat stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, movable blocks pivoted to said back, casting bars mounted on said blocks, means for moving said blocks toward or away from each other and means for turning said blocks on their pivots to move the casting bars into or out of engagement with the said back.

7. In a fiat stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, and pivoted casting bars, of a fixed guiding means for guiding the loose ends'of the said casting bars in their own plane, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a flat stereotype plate casting apparatus, th combination of a cover fixed in a vertical plane, a horizontal matrix supporting back, casting bars pivoted to one end of the said back, a pivot for said back, and means for moving the back into engagement with the pivot and thereafter into engagement withthe said cover.

9. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus the combination of a matrix supporting back, casting bars, supporting blocks for said bars having both smooth and right and left-hand threaded bearings, a. right and left-hand threaded screw shaft in said threaded bearings, a pair of arms pivoted on said screw threaded shaft, a smooth shaft opening in said smooth bearings of the blocks and also fixed to said arms, and means for turning said arms to swing the casting bars about the threaded shaft as a center.

10. In a fiat casting apparatus, the combination of a matrix supporting back having bearings located at one end of the back, a worm shaft mounted in said. bearings, arms loose on said shaft, a second shaft fixed between said arms, movable blocks mounted on the worm and second shafts, casting bars on the blocks, and means where by the blocks cause thebars to rise.

11. In a flat stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, two casting bars, each having a side member of full thickness, and a cross bar of half said thickness, one of said cross bars lying on the top of the other.

12. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, of a casting bar having a side iember, and a cross bar on angular extension of half the thickness of the side member. n

13. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix sup porting back, of a casting bar having a side member, and a cross bar or angular extension of half the thickness of the side member, said side member having a longitudinal recess along the edge thereof.

is. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a. matrix supporting back, of a casting bar having a longitudinal V-shaped recess along the edge thereof, and a longitudinal V-shaped projection on the edge under said recess.

15. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, of a. castingbar having a longitudinal if-shaped recess along the edge thereof, and a broad recess on the under side for a matrix bolster.

16. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, of a casting bar having a longitudinal V-shaped recess along the edge thereof, a longitudinal ll-shaped projection on the edge under said recess, and a broad recess on the under side for a matrix bolster.

17. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, of a casting bar having a recess on one side thereof for admitting the bolster of a matrix, a right angled side provided with a recess formed therein, and a projection located between said recesses.

18. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, of a casting bar having a projection thereon adapted to extend over the surface of the matrix for en 'a in the matrix D D C in a recess at a. distance from its edge, for the purpose set forth.

19. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a matrix supporting back, of a casting bar having means thereon for engaging a matrix in a depression formed by a rule at a distance from its edge, and having a nonchilling edge for the purpose set forth.

20. In a mold for casting stereotype plates, the combination of a member constituting substantially one half of the mold, a pair of parallel casting bars pivotally connected with said member and adapted'to rest thereon and hold a matrix thereto, one of said casting bars having a lateral projection constituting an end casting bar and adapted to fit the other casting bar, and means for adjustingsaid bars toward and from each other.

21. The combination with a casting back, of a head gage pivoted to the back, and casting bars mounted on the head gage to move therewith, said casting bars also being simultaneously adjustable toward and from each other.

22. The combination with the two parts of a mold, of a hinged head gage adapted to swing and extending across the mold cavity,

es/see and a pair of side gages adjustable toward and from each other.

23. The combination with the two parts of a mold, of a hinged guide pivoted to one of said parts, a head gage secured to said hinged guide and adapted toswing therewith, extending across the mold cavity, and a pair of side gages adjustable toward and from each other, said hinged guide having means for keeping said side gages parallel with each other.

2st. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, a pair of casting bars therefor, a transverse shaft on which said bars are pivoted, a parallel shaft supported by said bars for keeping said bars parallel with each other, and means for swinging the second shaft about the first and thus simultaneously swinging bothbars about the shaft on which they are pivoted.

25. In a stereotype plate casting appara tus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, a pair of casting bars adapted to be supported thereon, a transverse shaft on which said bars are pivoted, a shaft parallel therewith connecting said bars for preventing said bars from swinging independently of each other, said bars being movable toward and from each other along said shafts simultaneously.

26. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, a pair of casting bars therefor, a transverse shaft on which said bars are pivoted, a parallel shaft supported by said bars for keeping said bars parallel with each other, and means for simultaneously moving said bars toward and from each other.

27. In a stereotype plate casting appara tus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, a pair of casting bars therefor, a trans verse shaft on which said bars are pivoted, a parallel shaft supported by said bars for keeping said bars parallel with each other, the first-named transverse shaft having right and left-hand screw threads by which it is connected with said bars, whereby upon the turning of said shaft. said bars will be moved toward and from each other.

28. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination of a matrix supporting back, a pair of casting bars adapted to be supported thereon, a transverse shaft on which said bars are pivoted, a shaft parallel therewith connecting said bars for preventing said bars from swinging independently of each other, said bars being movable toward and from each other along said shafts simultaneously, and an end casting bar carried by and movable with said side bars.

29. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a supporting back for supporting a fiat matrix, of a casting bar having means thereon for engaging thematrix on a level with its casting face to provide for forming castings of uniform thicknesses.

30. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a flat matrix supporting back, of a casting bar, and means along the casting face of said bar for alining the type face of a matrix to the casting face of the bar, said casting face having a recess therein for preventing the chilling of the metal during the filling of the mold.

31. In a casting box, the combination with a back, of a cover therefor, the back being my hand in the presence of two subscribing 20 witnesses.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS.

lVitnesses:

BLODWEN \V. J ONES, P. M. STOEBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

